ARE you too nervous to concentrate on your first date? Here are the dos and don'ts to put you at ease.

According to research, nearly 66 per cent of singletons aged 40 and over will get anxious before a first date.

And for more than 84 per cent, a good conversationalist is the most important quality to find in a partner.

A survey of retirees found people are quicker to make judgements on the first date the older they are, with one in four people feeling confident they can decide if they like their date "within seconds".

So how can you make sure you are making the best impression the first time you meet?

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Be prepared to do more than your fair share of talking if your date is proving a little shy

Emma Inversen

Emma Iversen from MySingleFriend.com says: "That initial moment when you find yourself face-to-face with your date can be a bit awkward.

"Be prepared to do more than your fair share of talking if your date is proving a little shy. Tell them your best anecdotes and talk about your favourite films.

"If you can ask someone a question, then you can get a conversation started and keep it moving."

While most people feel it all comes down to conversation, not everyone knows exactly how to keep it flowing.

Reaching out for your phone during an awkward moment can spell disaster during a first date, as can striking up a conversation around the 'wrong' topic.

Read on to discover what to avoid on your first date… and how to put your best side forward…

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Be chatty but don't talk about your ex or previous relationships

Don’t talk about your ex

This is the biggest mistake a dater can make, yet it is easy for things to slip up.

Whenever possible you should avoid the subject all together on the first date. Spending the evening talking about your ex can make you come across as dull, or give the impression you are not ready to date someone else.

Iversen says: “Outlining the basics of your relationship history is fine, and hard to avoid when you're telling someone about yourself, but what they don't need is specifics.

“It's all too easy to sound either bitter, or as if you're still hung up on the past.”

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Leave your phone on silent and in your bag

Don’t spend the evening on your phone

According to an Ofcom market report, Britons spend two hours online on their phones every day checking their messages, browsing social media and online shopping.

The same report showed more than half of those surveyed think it is unacceptable to pick up your smartphone during dinner, yet 42 per cent admitted to checking their messages at the table.

Iversen advices daters to put their phone away and on silent: “Putting your phone on the table will provide too much temptation to pick it up, especially if you can see notifications popping up every two minutes.

“The more attention you pay to your phone, the less you'll be paying to your date and they won't feel good, even if you actually really like them.”

Don’t flirt with other people

Some people can be naturally charming and a bit flirty. And while this can be a winning trait, be careful of not getting too chatty with the table sitting next to you or the server.

Remember you should be putting your best lines to work on your date and not someone else.

Iversen says: "When you're on a date, really the only person you should be paying attention to is the person sitting in front of you."

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You should not flirt with other people other than your date

Do be yourself

The only way to make sure you a truly compatible with your date is by being yourself.

It's ok to be timid at first but don't let shyness take the best of you.

Talk about the topics you love with confidence and don't forget to smile. Jokes are dates favourites as they release endorphins and will make you bond faster.

Making sure you maintain eye contact should be number one on your list.

Although women have carried the reputation of talking more than men, many studies have found the opposite to be true. It is often men who get more say in average interactions.

However, is it worth remembering that the man who took you on a date wants to know about you.

Voice your opinion, let your personality shine through and you are guaranteed to find out if the other person is a real match.

If you are not sure on what you should talk about on the first date mysinglefriend.com’s Iversen recommends brushing up on current events.

"Current events are a little like common ground as the chances are you'll both have a fairly good awareness of what's going on in the world."

Do leave work and family drama at home

If you had a terrible day or a bad week at work, leave it for your friends.

Stress can be unattractive in people and send the wrong message about where you are in life.

"You should definitely talk about your family on a first date, but you don't need to unpack all of your emotional baggage immediately," says Iversen. "Remember an upbeat and positive attitude works wonders".